Bottom for knockdown boxes.



F. A. FRITZE, In.

BOTTOM FOR KNOCKDOWN BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1916- 1,258,330. Patented 51 5,1918.

UETTE STAT FERDINAND A. FRITZE, 31%., CF CI-ZICAG'Q, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQR T0 DURABLE BOX 00.,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CQRPGRATION 0F ILLINOIS.v

horror/r non xnocxnown nexus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma1-.5, 1918.

Application filed February 17, 1916. Serial No. 78,940.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND A. Fnrrzn, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottoms for Knoclc down Boxes, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as knock-down boxes, in which the various pa ts going to make up a box are dctachably connected, so the box may be shipped in the knocked-down from the manufacturing point, or after use may be knocked down and returned to the user to be used again and again. The particular invention in this case relates to the peculiar manufacture of the bottom of said boxes with the means for securing the same in place. It has for its object the production of a bottom suitable for such purposes, which may be economically produced, and which may be readily assembled with the. rest of the box or detached therefrom as the other parts are disconnected, and at the same time serves to firmly and rigidly hold the bottom in place when in use.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the box from back to front, illustrating my invention Fig. 2 is a partial section substantially in line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a similar section substantially in line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary section partly broken away, illustrating an auxiliary part of my invention.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the front wall of a box and 2 the rear wall thereof; 3 and 4 indicate the side walls of the box; 5 indicates the bottom and 6 the top.

The side and end walls are so constructed that they may be readily connected in any preferred manner at their meeting corners to constitute a box form. The bottom is preferably constructed of a size to snugly fit within the form thus provided, and with the extreme ends 11 bent outward and seated the top serving to strengthen the box and retain the form in its original shape or contour. 7

arranged transversely the bottom are provided one or more cleats 7, as shown arrangedtoward the middle of the bottom. The cleat 7 is preferably longitudinally grooved as at 8, with a rod 9 seated in said groove and maintained therein between the cleat and the bottom 5, as indicated. At the margin of the bottom the ends of the rod,

as at 10, are bent upward and preferably" seated in recesses or grooves formed in the walls of the box for the1r reception, with in apertures or holes bored in the walls of the box for that purpose. This is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The bottom is also preferably provided with additional cleats 12 near the margins thereof, and obviously, a similar construction may be employed here if desired. In the preferred construction, however, the walls 1 and 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, have cleats 13 attached near the bottom of said walls, thus becoming a component part thereof. The cleats 12 on the bottom of the box are so positioned as to permit the extension 14 on the bottom to extend over and rest upon the cleats 13, while the cleats 12, as indicated, are seated in close contact with the cleats 18 when the box is set up. A hole transversely bored into the cleat 12, registers with a similar hole formed in and preferably extending through the cleat 13, and into the walls. As the box isset up, pins 15 are positioned in the several cleats 1213, and the walls 1 and 2, as shown, serving to firmly engage the bottom of the box, preferably at right angles to the rod 9, at convenient points, and at a sufficient number of points to secure necessary rigidity and strength to the whole structure.

Qbviously, the bottom carries with it the rod 9, while the pins 15 are the only separable parts in the bottom structure to be prodded for in assembling the box.

Practical demonstration shows that a boX constructed in thismanner'possesses great strength and durability. The whole box may be readily manufactured at the source of lumber supply at a minmum of cost, and may be shipped in the knocked-down or stored at the minimum cost. The boxes may be readily set up at the point where they 1 are to be used, by unskilled labor without driving or drawing a nail, or without special apparatus or machinery, and as stated, when so set up, possess great strength and durability. After use they may be readily disconnected and packed in the knocked-clown form, as before stated, and returned to the user at a minimum of freight cost, wherethey may be readily assembled and used again and again.

In the drawings the box is shown as adapted for use by bottlers, in which a separate crate composed of slats 16, and transverse slats 17, are arranged in the box to separate the bottles.

Having thus described my invention, it is o vious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be' understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more par ticularly pointed out in the claim.

' What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a knock-down box, wall members,

adapted to be connected together to consti-' tute a box form, a pair, of the parallel wall. members being provided with cleats 13 on the botom thereof, with apertures formed therein, in combination with a bottom for said box, adapted to snugly fitwithin the box when set up, transverse cleats near the margin of said bottom, providing extensions ll adapted to extend over and rest upon the cleats 13 on the sides, apertures formed in the cleats adapted to receive pins 15, firmly locking the cleats to thesides to prevent lateral motion, an-additional cleat on the bottom longitudinally recessed, a rod 9 arranged in said recess and maintained between the cleat and the bottom, said rod bent upward at its ends and recessed into the proximate wall members with the ends of the rod bent outward engaging apertures formed in said wall members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FERDINAND A. FRITZE, Jn. \Vitnesses JOIIN'W. HILL, Crmnnns I. COBB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

